It is difficult to determine the exact problem from the description "white crusty areas". I suspect the problem is not a threat to your plant as no common problem of sago palm or cycad fits the description.

However, with more information I'll be happy to try to identify the problem and recommend steps to alleviate it if necessary. Take a close look at the area to determine if the problem appears to be:
1) something exuding from the plant like sap,
2) a dry, flakey material (scrape some off and crush it between your fingers to see if a pinkish material appears)
3) a white cottony material (look for small, plump insects among the white stuff or for elongated insects that quickly move around the leaf or stem to hide from your hand)
Then resubmit a question to the web site (including the original question) to let us know what you find. The better the description the better our chances of pinpointing the culprit!